The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-08-18
Shall w e Win?

The most casual observer OF the pro- |
ceedings of the Roanoke convention could |
not have failed to discern that the U. S.
is to be made tie real issue in
the approaching canvass. To it all else is
to be subordinated. The interests of the
Virginia; the condition of the people; the
pressing demands for wise legislation; the
imperatiye necessity for all adjustment of
the difficulties which hedge about the
State. must all yield to personal consldera
lions and the aspirations of individuals.
This is not only in obedience to the dc
tate of the bosses, but, from Democratic
standpoint, it is the part of wisdom as well.
Standing upon a platform the only good
blanks of which are distinctively Republi-
can. with record behind it in State and
nation to which it dares not refer, the
Democratic party may well seek to hide It's
past, and conduct the contest upon purely
DeTSOQal
Judgment and common sense must be Iald
aside. and passion, prejudice and epithet
invoked to lead the people away from the
contemplation of their interests, if success
would be achieved. 1t would be fatal TO
call up the acts of the last legislature the
reckless waste of the peoples money-the
imbecility and utter lack of real concern
for the States good. and hold to rigid
accountability the party so justly RESPONSE
BILE. 1t would be no less hazardous TO
turp the lights on the national capitol
and bring to public view the broken prom
ise,. the treachery and deceit that have
been part and parcel of the administration
for two years past. All of these vital issues
must he stjfed at the very outset, or else
they blot out every prospect of partizan
success. For them must be substituted
the one senseless cry of Down with Ma
hone.n With that shibboleth is linked
Democracy's only hope.
Driven from every position they have
hitherto assumed; compelled to endorse
that which a year Def ore they bitterly con-
demned: with no single Democratic princi-
ple to cling to. and no appeal that will reach
the public ear, the Democratic leaders
propose TO stake everything upon the one
desperate chance of arousing prejudice
and leading the people once more into
blind calling submission.
It lies with the Republicans to say
whetber or not this last card shall be
snatched f,om their hands ere the game
begins. 1t can he done, and the State de-
livered from the control of those who have
ruthlessy pressed her TO the earth. Let
eyery Republican and independent candi-
date announce from the platform that he
is in the field to aid Virginia in her strug-
gle for material prosperity: to enact busl-
ness laws for business men; to strive Tor
the upbuilding of the State and the pros
perty of all her people, rather than for the
perpetuty of party ascendancy. and the
triumph of party ends; that the good OF
the State shall be the sole guide OF his con-
duct, and the blotting out of class legisla-
ton and the upbuilding of the farming,
mechanical and business interests, his prl-
mary ambition: and to the end that the
Senatorial contest may be subOrdaated to
the real issacs. let Inn announce that ne
,UM enter no Senatorial caucus, but will
be bound in this, as in all other respects, to
consult alone the best good of Virginia in
the vote he shall cast for United States
Senator
With snch platform, the trading poll
ticians will be forced 10 the rear. The
strong. common sense of the masses who
feel and know the desperate condition of
the State s affairs and realize that united
effort must be made to wrest her
from the grasp of those who would make
of her mere political machine, will assert
itself. There is more independence to-day
10 Virginia than was ever before known in
her history. Party ties, in State matters.
hang loosely. Party whips have lost their
terror. Men can no longer be driven or
cajoled by threats or promises. The de-
mand of the people is for clean State
government. For laws that will meet the
publ needs. For an honest, earnest ef-
fort for the settlement of the debt and
proper provision to assure the success of
that settlement. Fer business men in the
departments and business methods in the
administration of the laws. In short. for
releg ating politicians and partizanism to
the rear for while. in order that the
State and her people may be permitted to
i've anu prosper.
These are the vital, commanding issues
of the campaign this fall. If they can be
stripped of all irrelevant matter, and
pressed to the front in their naked signif-
canoe. there Will be just cause for rejoicing
when the contest ends
We shall be glad to receive and publish
brief communications from Repn blicans
throughout the State touching the plan
above suggested, either in appro val or dis
approval. We ask that those who see
proper to let their views be known shall
present them in as condensed form as
clearness will admit, as our space is too
limited to indulge extended discussion. |
What we want is the expression Of the rea
sentiment of the Republicans of Virginia. |
70 that the party itself and the world !
nay know the exact ground it occupies.
It i, now stated that the Democrats of
in their next State COnyen-